First Advisor

Meenakshi Rao

Date of Award

Spring 5-16-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Mechanical Engineering and University Honors

Department

Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Language

English

Subjects

Air -- Pollution -- Oregon -- Portland -- Maps, Urban heat island -- Oregon -- Portland, Neighborhoods -- Oregon -- Portland

DOI

10.15760/honors.1226

Abstract

Historically-redlined neighborhoods across the metropolitan United States -- most often socioeconomically disadvantaged communities of color -- have been shown in multiple studies to be disproportionately affected by environmental burdens, having greater exposure to air, water, and ground pollution as well as being subject to the "urban heat island" effect, among other disparities. Studies into the continuing environmental inequity present in these communities in Portland, Oregon specifically have addressed this phenomenon, finding that these neighborhoods are 8 degrees Fahrenheit warmer on average than their wealthier and (mostly) whiter counterparts, in large part due to a lack of green spaces and tree canopy. While the effects of extreme heat are well-documented (recently illustrated by the record-breaking heatwave in the Pacific Northwest), in what other ways are socioeconomically disadvantaged communities affected by inequitable environmental and urban policies? This project will use the programming language R to create an interactive visualization of 1) recent air toxic emissions and their relation to formerly redlined communities using facility emissions data from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Preliminary results suggest that vulnerable communities are exposed to air toxics at a concentration higher than the average, though this phenomenon is not confined to these formerly redlined areas.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/37692

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